William Nylander Disputes A Common Mitch Marner Narrative

William Nylander says Mitch Marner didn't want to leave Toronto during the past season

Throughout this past season, as a pending UFA, it was felt by most observers and fans that Mitch Marner was aiming to leave the Toronto Maple Leafs all along at the end of the campaign.

Not so, according to his old friend and teammate, William Nylander.

In a lengthy interview, as cited by Leafs Latest, from an interview on nhl.com, Nylander says Marner had not made up his mind during the year, and was 'all in' on Toronto right through to the end of the season.

🚨 Despite reports suggesting Mitch Marner had already made up his mind to leave the Maple Leafs midway through the season, William Nylander pushed back on the idea that Marner was looking elsewhere while still under contract. With Marner set to become an unrestricted free agent… pic.twitter.com/s7ufGQmlN6
— Leafslatest (@Leafslatest) August 22, 2025

Not sure where that stuff comes from, but I don’t think he was ever thinking of leaving ahead of time. I actually asked him during the season and he said he was concentrating on Toronto. I didn’t want to press him on that and let him be because it was obviously on his mind, but his play was focused on helping us. Then I asked him after the season and he wasn’t sure.

Hmm. Marner wouldn't keep something like that from his star teammate Willy, would he?

Ahead of the trade deadline, things got especially weird, when GM Brad Treliving had to go to Marner to ask if he'd be willing to waive his no-move clause because the Carolina Hurricanes were offering Mikko Rantanen for him. Marner said 'No', that he was focused on winning in Toronto.

In the end, after another playoff disappointment in the second round, losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in seven games, Marner's future came under intense scrutiny, and he wound up forcing, if you will, a sign-and-trade to the Vegas Golden Knights. He signed an eight-year, $96 million deal ($12 million AAV) and the Leafs got third-line center Nic Roy back from Vegas in return.

“It’s tough seeing him go, but I’m so happy for him and his family,” Nylander added. “He got to pick where he went, so, in that aspect, I’m happy for him. We’re going to miss him a lot, but that’s just the business of the sport. That’s the way it is. So we’ve got to regroup as a team and figure out a way to keep winning games.”

The two "grew up together" in Toronto, with Nylander playing his first full NHL season alongside Marner's rookie season in 2016-17. Both turned into top-level star wingers, and both now have hefty long-term contracts (Nylander is going into the second season of his 8-year, $11.5M AAV extension).

Nevertheless, for the next seven years, Willy will continue to be plying his trade in Toronto, while Marner rolls the dice on an eight-year stint in Las Vegas.